General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am a "CENTRIST" Democrat, have been for 46 years, and am proud to be so! [View all]bigtree
(85,996 posts)...has been to limit the influence of progressives in crafting legislation in committee, and in staging crucial votes against the party where the majority of our legislators are unified, preventing progressive initiatives from becoming law.
In fact, it's hard to find instances where their agenda has been a positive one, often using their votes and influence as leverage against a majority of Democrats prepared to act together to oppose republican legislation or advance initiatives of our own. They posture and act against the majority of our party to protect corporate interests, gun enthusiasts, or a host of conservative interests which are an anathema to our Democratic agenda.
So, it's probably smart to refuse to subject your declaration that you're a 'centrist' to any specific critique, lest you have to explain the actions against the majority of the party which characterizes almost everything self-described centrist legislators actually do.
Better to stick with empty rhetoric to make it appear that you're every Democrat, not part of the insurgent minority of 'moderates' who also tout the 'centrist' label as they posture against our leadership and majority of Democratic legislators.